3D simulation technology turns to weapons training

Virtalis subsidiary VP Defence has just delivered a brand new virtual reality (VR) trainer for the 7.62mm general purpose machine gun (GPMG).

Virtalis subsidiary VP Defence has just delivered a brand new virtual reality (VR) trainer for the 7.62mm general purpose machine gun (GPMG).

This builds on the success of its close-range weapons simulator, which was installed at the Royal Navy's HMS Collingwood two years ago.

Recent media coverage of the conflict in Iraq has demonstrated the enormous array of weaponry available to our armed forces.

The amount of training necessary to ensure that weapon systems are used efficiently and correctly is considerable.

Yet there are mounting pressures on training establishments in the UK to justify increasing manpower resources and counteract the spiralling cost of ammunition.

Nowhere was this truer than in the training requirements for the GPMG, which have been used throughout the UK's land and sea forces for nearly five decades.

Like its predecessors, the real-time simulators for 20mm GAM BO1 and 30mm MKI weapons, the VR GPMG trainer uses an inert version of the actual weapon, so students continue to handle equipment that has a "look and feel" of the real operational setting.

Even the sounds of the weapons are similar to those experienced in reality, as the student is played real-time recordings of ordnance discharge from stereo speakers.

Perhaps the only difference between VR and real life firing is the lack of recoil, although this is simulated visually.

Warrant Officer Bob Bainbridge of HMS Collingwood explained: "The advantages of VR training are numerous.

Not only can we help to reduce the environmental pollution caused by spent ammunition, but there are other major benefits, including a major reduction in expenditure on live ammunition, no need to air-tow targets and no reliance on the weather.

In the year prior to the inception of the 20 and 30mm VR trainers, the Royal Navy spent GBP 1.5 million on live rounds.

Naturally, as there is almost no cost associated with the use of Virtalis's trainers, we were able to fire approximately 30 times more rounds in the first year of operation and, of course, this is set to rise with the addition of the VR GPMG trainer.

This kind of intensive training is no longer seen as extravagant, but good, cost-effective practice".

The focus of the trainers is not only accuracy, but safety and the observance of the correct rules of engagement.

However, the accuracy of the ballistics within a target range of 50 to 200 metres and at a rate of fire of between 700 to 900 rounds per minute, means that the students' marksmanship has demonstrably improved.

Unlike real-life practice, the PC-hosted VR trainers have a playback feature, which enables the instructor to analyse the students' performance.

Richard Davies, the Development Team Manager at Virtalis said: "The GPMG VR trainer has two modes - transit and stationary.

The transit version takes the form of the view from a ship sailing down what is described as a "Suez Canal-type environment" for about six minutes.

During this time, up to 50 animated figures can appear, together with moving trucks and speedboats.

The idea is that the students must use the visual information presented to them to decide whether to open fire or not".

"All the figures are animated.

They fall to the ground when hit and you can even hear the sound of their weapons when they return fire.

The VR GPMG closely represents of the ballistics of the gun, its speed, direction and rate of fire.

All the visuals are projected onto a screen 3.6m wide and 2.7m high positioned about 7m in front of a fully operational GPMG".

Virtalis developed its own especially rugged tracking system for the VR GPMG in order that the movements of the gun are followed accurately.

In addition, the system was developed using the company's own kRender system, an advanced real-time 3D VR render package that runs on Windows 2000 and boasts a range of realistic visual effects for training applications, such as real-time shadowing, different fog densities, a dynamic seascape, rain, fire and smoke.

WO Bainbridge concluded: "Although only one student at a time can train and fire on the VR GPMG, it is an excellent group training exercise, as the students observing continue to learn from the correct procedures and drill conducted by guns crew, as well as the analysis of the instructor.

It can also be utilised for command training.

Here, weapon drills, rules of engagement and the approved use of force can all be practised under the direct control of the commanding officer".

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